Reality bites…Fiction rules

I did it! I completed my first novel. I know what you’re thinking…I have said something similar before. But this time it’s different. A year and a little bit ago, I completed NANOWRIMO (in English, I wrote a 50,000 word novel in 30 days). That book, Mapmaker and Magician, lacked flow. It lacked a clear plot and meandered all around Maine with hints of amazingness (if I do say so myself!). I can’t count it as a completed novel because really, it’s 50,000 words that make up a bunch of images instead of a story. It has potential, what I have in mind is a hard literary accomplishment, but it will happen….someday. Just not today.

My completed novel, untitled as it is, is a romance, a romance novel with a very clear plot. And it turns out a clear plot makes a story easier to write. Who woulda thunk it? It also turns out the only romance wasn’t between my characters, I fell in love with this book and this journey. My characters are real. I almost bought shoes for Peter, my romantic interest. I found myself wondering what Heather, the widow, was doing during the day. Is she at Kroger? Going for a run? Maybe I’ll see her at Target…DOUBTFUL because she’s FAKE!!

I cried when I finished the book yesterday. I didn’t want to say good bye to them. I have all kinds of sequels and companion books planned in an attempt to hang out with my characters again.

But before that, I am editing. Editing on my own, with my writing team and a professional editor. Tonight I went back to Chapter 3 and I compared my main character in Chapter 3 to the way she was in Chapter 42. She grew so much…and I am so proud of her. She evolved and I have to remind myself that I had a hand in that.

Writing this book has brought me so much joy and happiness. Creating a world filled with other lives coupled with accomplishing something greater than a bucket list item has been a dream come true. I’m a bit tongue tied about the process. But I wanted to share my thoughts with my poor abandoned blog and promise I will spend more time on here now that this step is completed. Maybe I’ll even share another teeny tiny excerpt with you soon. Until then, I need to pat myself on the back quickly and then fold all the laundry that has somehow not disappeared even for me, Miss Author.